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Scotty Bradley #4
Vieux Carré Voodoo
Former go-go boy turned detective Scotty Bradley is back!
When an old family friend apparently commits suicide from his French Quarter balcony, Scotty’s life accelerates from boring to exciting again in a nanosecond. Why would anyone want the old man dead, and what were they looking for in his ransacked apartment? It’s up to Scotty, Frank, his crazy family, and friends to get to the bottom of this bizarre mystery—and when an old, all-too-familiar face turns up, it’s not just Scotty’s life that’s in danger, but his heart.
When an old family friend apparently commits suicide from his French Quarter balcony, Scotty’s life accelerates from boring to exciting again in a nanosecond. Why would anyone want the old man dead, and what were they looking for in his ransacked apartment? It’s up to Scotty, Frank, his crazy family, and friends to get to the bottom of this bizarre mystery—and when an old, all-too-familiar face turns up, it’s not just Scotty’s life that’s in danger, but his heart.
242 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Greg Herren
80 books150 followersGreg Herren is a New Orleans-based author and editor. Former editor of Lambda Book Report, he is also a co-founder of the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, which takes place in New Orleans every May. He is the author of ten novels, including the Lambda Literary Award winning Murder in the Rue Chartres, called by the New Orleans Times-Picayune “the most honest depiction of life in post-Katrina New Orleans published thus far.” He co-edited Love, Bourbon Street: Reflections on New Orleans, which also won the Lambda Literary Award. He has published over fifty short stories in markets as varied as Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine to the critically acclaimed anthology New Orleans Noir to various websites, literary magazines, and anthologies. His erotica anthology FRATSEX is the all time best selling title for Insightoutbooks. Under his pseudonym Todd Gregory, he published the bestselling erotic novel Every Frat Boy Wants It and the erotic anthologies His Underwear and Rough Trade (to be released by Bold Strokes Books in 2009).
A long-time resident of New Orleans, Greg was a fitness columnist and book reviewer for Window Media for over four years, publishing in the LGBT newspapers IMPACT News, Southern Voice, and Houston Voice. He served a term on the Board of Directors for the National Stonewall Democrats, and served on the founding committee of the Louisiana Stonewall Democrats. He is currently employed as a public health researcher for the NO/AIDS Task Force.
A long-time resident of New Orleans, Greg was a fitness columnist and book reviewer for Window Media for over four years, publishing in the LGBT newspapers IMPACT News, Southern Voice, and Houston Voice. He served a term on the Board of Directors for the National Stonewall Democrats, and served on the founding committee of the Louisiana Stonewall Democrats. He is currently employed as a public health researcher for the NO/AIDS Task Force.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 24, 2021
It's hard to believe that most of this story took place in two days. In true Scotty Bradley form we are drawn into his NOLA. The mystery itself was fun and interesting though the best part of the story was the character interaction.
May 31, 2011
*Happy sigh.* I love Scotty.
June 7, 2010
This is the fourth book in the Scott Bradley mystery series but it’s the first one I’ve read. There is no mention of the book being a series on the publisher’s site so I took a chance. Thankfully the story can easily be read as a standalone due to the lengthy preamble which summarizes all the action up to that point. If you’re not familiar with Scott Bradley, the beginning brings you up to speed. Fans of the series can use the section to catch up or can simply skip it. After this the book picks up with a new mystery and continuing action in Bradley’s life. There are parts of the book I really quite enjoy and parts I hate entirely. I finished the story frustrated unfortunately and not sure I’d continue with the series.
After you’re caught up with the series and have a quick look at the important players, the mystery starts in right away. Scott gets embroiled in a 40 year old theft and mystery when several interested parties want the object that was stolen. He’s immediately and intimately involved on several levels and has no choice but to try to solve the mystery. With his lover away and his ex-lover making a surprising return, Scott’s easy, happy life has suddenly become complicated and exhausting.
The story blends a mystery component with a loose romance aspect, which I wish had been left out since the mystery aspect is the best part. The mystery is quite good although there are a few holes and leaps in logic, most of which are easily covered by the secret agency “need to know” line thrown around frequently. Overall the progression is nice, logical, and quite entertaining. Scott needs to find the missing religious relic that has very serious religious, political, and socioeconomic impacts. There is some high level political intrigue thrown in with a random weapons of mass destruction angle, none of which are really needed because the mystery in and of itself simply works. Scott’s minor psychic ability fits well with the religious implications and watching him figure out the clues to finding the icon is the most entertaining aspect of the book. He’s clever without ever going too far into the outrageous. There are gun fights and secret agents without feeling like you’re watching a typical spy movie. The action is quick paced and makes the pages completely fly by without noticing.
The background of New Orleans is incredibly well depicted and comes vividly alive. The details included are effortless and natural. Clearly the author lives in and loves the city on an intimate level. You feel as though you’re walking the streets of the French Quarter or the Garden district without lengthy descriptions that can be boring. Instead, the detail is woven into the story constantly but with an ease that helps you experience the city as well as the adventure. Likewise the writing has moments of eloquence when it sinks into the action and gets really moving. Occasionally the prose stutters sometimes with too many quick statements that feel rote and uninteresting as they describe the characters actions.
"I felt the bullet whiz past my ear and embed itself into the stone behind me. A chip flew out and hit me in the back. Frank grabbed me and tossed me to the ground. A geyser of water splashed up as the impact knocked the breath out of me. The water was moving pretty fast and the dirty cold water filled my mouth and nose."
But thankfully these are offset by the more fluid writing that usually kicks in with more interest.
The characters are decently developed but really the main character is Scott. Everyone else, including his two lovers, just move in and out of scenes as necessary so the story relies on Scott a lot. He’s an interesting man but I didn’t fully understand him and his choices. Perhaps this is where not having read the previous books is a disadvantage. It’s also the area I like the very least. Scott and Frank initially got together with a third man named Colin. Colin is introduced to the reader in the preamble as the man that was actually an undercover assassin and murdered two of Scott’s uncles before fleeing. Scott mentions several times how devastated he was over Colin’s lies and actions. He mentions how hurtful they were to his entire family, yet the minute Colin shows up everyone accepts him easily.
Colin’s reappearance is supposed to throw tension into the story but it feels flat since no one is really angry at him. Scott has a few internal moments of saying he could be upset but why bother and these are very weak given his previous emphasis on his hurt and anger. Even Scott’s parents berate Scott for not forgiving Colin on the spot. This threw me and totally pulled me out of the story. I didn’t understand why the book was making such a point of saying how horrible Colin’s actions were if everyone forgave him so easily. And since they forgave him incredibly easily ~ you’d think he’d have been late to dinner versus disappearing for three years under a cloud of murder and suspicion ~ I didn’t understand why the story persisted in dragging out the storyline. At many points Colin’s involvement in the mystery feels totally superfluous and only added as a way to reintroduce him into Scott and Frank’s lives.
If the story had stayed almost fully on the mystery, I think this would be a series I’d really enjoy and devour. Unfortunately the way all the characters acted towards Colin made no sense and had me frustrated with the book. When Scott is running around figuring out the mystery, this is a very entertaining, enjoyable romp with a gorgeous New Orleans setting. When he starts to think about feelings or any emotion with depth, the book veers off course and can’t really pull it off. The relationships are interesting to read but lack a real depth that allows them to connect with the reader. Perhaps this is easier in the context of the whole series and an area fans can appreciate more. I can recommend the book for the mystery aspect but the relationship portion had me throwing the e-reader.
After you’re caught up with the series and have a quick look at the important players, the mystery starts in right away. Scott gets embroiled in a 40 year old theft and mystery when several interested parties want the object that was stolen. He’s immediately and intimately involved on several levels and has no choice but to try to solve the mystery. With his lover away and his ex-lover making a surprising return, Scott’s easy, happy life has suddenly become complicated and exhausting.
The story blends a mystery component with a loose romance aspect, which I wish had been left out since the mystery aspect is the best part. The mystery is quite good although there are a few holes and leaps in logic, most of which are easily covered by the secret agency “need to know” line thrown around frequently. Overall the progression is nice, logical, and quite entertaining. Scott needs to find the missing religious relic that has very serious religious, political, and socioeconomic impacts. There is some high level political intrigue thrown in with a random weapons of mass destruction angle, none of which are really needed because the mystery in and of itself simply works. Scott’s minor psychic ability fits well with the religious implications and watching him figure out the clues to finding the icon is the most entertaining aspect of the book. He’s clever without ever going too far into the outrageous. There are gun fights and secret agents without feeling like you’re watching a typical spy movie. The action is quick paced and makes the pages completely fly by without noticing.
The background of New Orleans is incredibly well depicted and comes vividly alive. The details included are effortless and natural. Clearly the author lives in and loves the city on an intimate level. You feel as though you’re walking the streets of the French Quarter or the Garden district without lengthy descriptions that can be boring. Instead, the detail is woven into the story constantly but with an ease that helps you experience the city as well as the adventure. Likewise the writing has moments of eloquence when it sinks into the action and gets really moving. Occasionally the prose stutters sometimes with too many quick statements that feel rote and uninteresting as they describe the characters actions.
"I felt the bullet whiz past my ear and embed itself into the stone behind me. A chip flew out and hit me in the back. Frank grabbed me and tossed me to the ground. A geyser of water splashed up as the impact knocked the breath out of me. The water was moving pretty fast and the dirty cold water filled my mouth and nose."
But thankfully these are offset by the more fluid writing that usually kicks in with more interest.
The characters are decently developed but really the main character is Scott. Everyone else, including his two lovers, just move in and out of scenes as necessary so the story relies on Scott a lot. He’s an interesting man but I didn’t fully understand him and his choices. Perhaps this is where not having read the previous books is a disadvantage. It’s also the area I like the very least. Scott and Frank initially got together with a third man named Colin. Colin is introduced to the reader in the preamble as the man that was actually an undercover assassin and murdered two of Scott’s uncles before fleeing. Scott mentions several times how devastated he was over Colin’s lies and actions. He mentions how hurtful they were to his entire family, yet the minute Colin shows up everyone accepts him easily.
Colin’s reappearance is supposed to throw tension into the story but it feels flat since no one is really angry at him. Scott has a few internal moments of saying he could be upset but why bother and these are very weak given his previous emphasis on his hurt and anger. Even Scott’s parents berate Scott for not forgiving Colin on the spot. This threw me and totally pulled me out of the story. I didn’t understand why the book was making such a point of saying how horrible Colin’s actions were if everyone forgave him so easily. And since they forgave him incredibly easily ~ you’d think he’d have been late to dinner versus disappearing for three years under a cloud of murder and suspicion ~ I didn’t understand why the story persisted in dragging out the storyline. At many points Colin’s involvement in the mystery feels totally superfluous and only added as a way to reintroduce him into Scott and Frank’s lives.
If the story had stayed almost fully on the mystery, I think this would be a series I’d really enjoy and devour. Unfortunately the way all the characters acted towards Colin made no sense and had me frustrated with the book. When Scott is running around figuring out the mystery, this is a very entertaining, enjoyable romp with a gorgeous New Orleans setting. When he starts to think about feelings or any emotion with depth, the book veers off course and can’t really pull it off. The relationships are interesting to read but lack a real depth that allows them to connect with the reader. Perhaps this is easier in the context of the whole series and an area fans can appreciate more. I can recommend the book for the mystery aspect but the relationship portion had me throwing the e-reader.
August 25, 2018
Edit: Price Drop on this until August 26th, 2018, over on the Bold Strokes Books web-store in e-formats, down to $3.74!
March 1, 2025
As Mardi Gras approaches, I always try to read books based in New Orleans. Often it is one of Greg Herren's Scotty Bradley series. The way Herren brings a reader up to date on the Bradley family, the challenges the City that Care Forgot faces, and American pop culture that needs a swift kick is an absolute pleasure. In Vieux Carré Voodoo, readers find Scotty a bit depressed because his guy Frank is almost 1,000 miles away in Ohio pursuing a pro wrestling team dream. Herren's hero also ponders that his clairvoyance has abandoned him.
Scotty is still a good son, so he dons his bikini Easter bunny costume to head for the float his parents are sponsoring in a parade. En route, he encounters an aging family friend and Herren sets a wild mystery in motion. How many characters from Scotty's earlier adventures will readers encounter? Beaucoup, mes amis, beaucoup.
While Herren is faithful to the layout and culture of NOLA, he has invented Pleshiwar, a country in the Himalayas. Peshawar's theocracy was upended by a theft in the late 1960s and now its operatives are in NOLA wreaking havoc too close to Scotty. While this is a swift read, it also provides meditations on a lover lost, Hurricane Katrina, and NOLA's Irrepressible joie de vivre.
Scotty is still a good son, so he dons his bikini Easter bunny costume to head for the float his parents are sponsoring in a parade. En route, he encounters an aging family friend and Herren sets a wild mystery in motion. How many characters from Scotty's earlier adventures will readers encounter? Beaucoup, mes amis, beaucoup.
While Herren is faithful to the layout and culture of NOLA, he has invented Pleshiwar, a country in the Himalayas. Peshawar's theocracy was upended by a theft in the late 1960s and now its operatives are in NOLA wreaking havoc too close to Scotty. While this is a swift read, it also provides meditations on a lover lost, Hurricane Katrina, and NOLA's Irrepressible joie de vivre.
July 26, 2025
Full review here:
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While I enjoyed this one, I was expecting something closer to Louisiana Voodoo/Conjure than Indian dual goddess lore. Also trying very hard to figure out why the hell Colin is such a yo-yo character, coming in and out of the larger narrative.
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While I enjoyed this one, I was expecting something closer to Louisiana Voodoo/Conjure than Indian dual goddess lore. Also trying very hard to figure out why the hell Colin is such a yo-yo character, coming in and out of the larger narrative.
June 1, 2017
Life never gives you anything you can't handle - it's how you handle it that matters.
December 29, 2025
A fun light read.
Another fun read from Greg Herren. Another high body count, another kidnapping, another warm filled ending. Greg always makes murder and mayhem fun!
Another fun read from Greg Herren. Another high body count, another kidnapping, another warm filled ending. Greg always makes murder and mayhem fun!
December 11, 2016
Third book in series.
February 28, 2016
The third book in the Scotty Bradley series ended perfectly for my tastes and preferences. But after all this time, four years, I have to admit that it is exciting to return to Greg Herren’s fantastic city New Orleans.
Scotty and Frank are together in a great relationship, but they are still not over Colin and the lies he told them while he was in their open relationship and under cover. Frank decides to fly to Ohio in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
On the day of the Easter parade, Scotty finds himself chasing the clock because he is late arriving at his parent’s float, in white bikini briefs with a bunny cotton tail and rabbit ears. He is accidentally splashed with cold water in the extreme Louisiana heat. (Now they’re see through briefs!)
Scotty has hardened his heart not only against Colin and the ache in his heart that he left, but against the Goddess too. Not even reading his Tarot deck seems to help. Maybe his gift is gone? Is it gone for good? While pitching beads to hot and hunky gay men, he has one of his dizzy spells, passes out, and is soon tripping over dead bodies, again. NOPD Detective Venus Casanova isn’t surprised that it was Scotty at the crime scene, as usual.
Before he knows it, Scotty is getting way more questions than answers. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he takes on a case for his new neighbor, a suspicious straight (not that it matters, but) college guy whose father he claims was murdered.
The Goddess shows Scotty another face of herself, (for she has many faces). With unknown assassins and undercover agents both after the same thing, the Eye of Kali, will Scotty survive to get to the Eye first?
Who’s telling the truth in this great mystery of international conspiracy, espionage, and aching hearts?
Scotty and Frank are together in a great relationship, but they are still not over Colin and the lies he told them while he was in their open relationship and under cover. Frank decides to fly to Ohio in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
On the day of the Easter parade, Scotty finds himself chasing the clock because he is late arriving at his parent’s float, in white bikini briefs with a bunny cotton tail and rabbit ears. He is accidentally splashed with cold water in the extreme Louisiana heat. (Now they’re see through briefs!)
Scotty has hardened his heart not only against Colin and the ache in his heart that he left, but against the Goddess too. Not even reading his Tarot deck seems to help. Maybe his gift is gone? Is it gone for good? While pitching beads to hot and hunky gay men, he has one of his dizzy spells, passes out, and is soon tripping over dead bodies, again. NOPD Detective Venus Casanova isn’t surprised that it was Scotty at the crime scene, as usual.
Before he knows it, Scotty is getting way more questions than answers. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he takes on a case for his new neighbor, a suspicious straight (not that it matters, but) college guy whose father he claims was murdered.
The Goddess shows Scotty another face of herself, (for she has many faces). With unknown assassins and undercover agents both after the same thing, the Eye of Kali, will Scotty survive to get to the Eye first?
Who’s telling the truth in this great mystery of international conspiracy, espionage, and aching hearts?
March 12, 2022
The third book in the Scotty Bradley series ended perfectly for my tastes and preferences. But after all this time, four years, I have to admit that it is exciting to return to Greg Herren’s fantastic city New Orleans.
Scotty and Frank are together in a great relationship, but they are still not over Colin and the lies he told them while he was in their open relationship and under cover. Frank decides to fly to Ohio in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
On the day of the Easter parade, Scotty finds himself chasing the clock because he is late arriving at his parent’s float, in white bikini briefs with a bunny cotton tail and rabbit ears. He is accidentally splashed with cold water in the extreme Louisiana heat. (Now they’re see through briefs!)
Scotty has hardened his heart not only against Colin and the ache in his heart that he left, but against the Goddess too. Not even reading his Tarot deck seems to help. Maybe his gift is gone? Is it gone for good? While pitching beads to hot and hunky gay men, he has one of his dizzy spells, passes out, and is soon tripping over dead bodies, again. NOPD Detective Venus Casanova isn’t surprised that it was Scotty at the crime scene, as usual.
Before he knows it, Scotty is getting way more questions than answers. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he takes on a case for his new neighbor, a suspicious straight (not that it matters, but) college guy whose father he claims was murdered.
The Goddess shows Scotty another face of herself, (for she has many faces). With unknown assassins and undercover agents both after the same thing, the Eye of Kali, will Scotty survive to get to the Eye first?
Who’s telling the truth in this great mystery of international conspiracy, espionage, and aching hearts?
Scotty and Frank are together in a great relationship, but they are still not over Colin and the lies he told them while he was in their open relationship and under cover. Frank decides to fly to Ohio in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
On the day of the Easter parade, Scotty finds himself chasing the clock because he is late arriving at his parent’s float, in white bikini briefs with a bunny cotton tail and rabbit ears. He is accidentally splashed with cold water in the extreme Louisiana heat. (Now they’re see through briefs!)
Scotty has hardened his heart not only against Colin and the ache in his heart that he left, but against the Goddess too. Not even reading his Tarot deck seems to help. Maybe his gift is gone? Is it gone for good? While pitching beads to hot and hunky gay men, he has one of his dizzy spells, passes out, and is soon tripping over dead bodies, again. NOPD Detective Venus Casanova isn’t surprised that it was Scotty at the crime scene, as usual.
Before he knows it, Scotty is getting way more questions than answers. As if this wasn’t bad enough, he takes on a case for his new neighbor, a suspicious straight (not that it matters, but) college guy whose father he claims was murdered.
The Goddess shows Scotty another face of herself, (for she has many faces). With unknown assassins and undercover agents both after the same thing, the Eye of Kali, will Scotty survive to get to the Eye first?
Who’s telling the truth in this great mystery of international conspiracy, espionage, and aching hearts?
September 14, 2024
Another in the series about Scotty Bradley and his detective work in the city he has lived in all his life, New Orleans. In this one, he is involved in an international crisis, with a middle eastern country that has lost a symbol of its religious theocracy in the 1960s, and the effect to recover it. It turns out that a friend of the Bradley family is involved.
The mystery has a lot of moving parts, and there are several murders that take place as the various factions fight over the system, which is actually a piece of jewelry taken from a statue.
Of course, Scotty is part of the solving of the mystery. In addition, his Frank and he have to decide whether to forget their other lover, Colin, who disappeared without leaving a farewell three years before.
It is an emotional and scary time for Scotty, but also fun to hear about how he manages to handle everything.
For people who like mysteries and gay male romance, this is a wonderful series, and the fact that it takes place in New Orleans adds to the enjoyment.
The mystery has a lot of moving parts, and there are several murders that take place as the various factions fight over the system, which is actually a piece of jewelry taken from a statue.
Of course, Scotty is part of the solving of the mystery. In addition, his Frank and he have to decide whether to forget their other lover, Colin, who disappeared without leaving a farewell three years before.
It is an emotional and scary time for Scotty, but also fun to hear about how he manages to handle everything.
For people who like mysteries and gay male romance, this is a wonderful series, and the fact that it takes place in New Orleans adds to the enjoyment.
February 9, 2011
This is the fourth book in the Scotty Bradley Mystery series and although I haven't read the first three stories I didn't have a problem following along. Scotty is a PI in a relationship, both professionally and personally, with Frank who's an ex-FBI agent. This story is mainly a mystery story with just a dash of romance thrown in. I really liked Scotty and enjoyed the mystery storyline. There's a nice mix of supporting characters as well. This is the first story I've read by Greg Herren and I found it to be well-written and entertaining.
November 16, 2011
Wow, this one sucked. I don't like to say it, but pretty much everything was wrong with it, especially the plot. Everything was so convenient, right down to the pacifistic mom having a gun for her son to use. I don't think I've seen a plot that was constructed as poorly as this one.
The characters were unbelievable and shallow, all the guys were incredibly (but conventionally) goodlooking, no development whatsoever. Yeah, muscle development.
I was genuinely surprised to read this was his 12th novel, I wouldn't have accepted this level of mediocreness from a debut, let alone from a seasoned writer/editor.
Waste of time.
The characters were unbelievable and shallow, all the guys were incredibly (but conventionally) goodlooking, no development whatsoever. Yeah, muscle development.
I was genuinely surprised to read this was his 12th novel, I wouldn't have accepted this level of mediocreness from a debut, let alone from a seasoned writer/editor.
Waste of time.
October 20, 2010
I love Scotty Bradley! This series is quirky and funny, with just a touch of romance thrown in, (really, it's barely there). Scotty is an ex-go go boy who has become a private investigator and started his own business with his partner/lover Frank (an ex-FBI agent)...
Check out the rest of my review at my blog:
http://sunnyreads.blogspot.com/2010/1...
Check out the rest of my review at my blog:
http://sunnyreads.blogspot.com/2010/1...
July 1, 2016
Awesome. Fantastic read, solid, twisty mystery chock full of suspense and surprises - kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page! I couldn't get enough of Scott, Frank & Colin!!!
Read
January 12, 2013Really looking forward to starting this mystery with my book group. The characters sound quirky and interesting fun.
July 6, 2011
Good gay mystery with a hint of the paranormal that takes place three years after the previous book, in post-Katrina New Orleans.
October 25, 2015
2010 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
July 15, 2015
A terrific romantic mystery with the heart of New Orleans.
February 27, 2016
Fantastic gay mystery, no erotica
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews